Kel Tec RFB Rifle: Carbine Model Shipping in December

An exciting new rifle, the Kel Tec RFB, is expected to ship the carbine model in December 2008. This rifle has been one of the more eagerly anticipated firearms in 2008.

A video of the carbine in action is embedded below.

The RFB is a 7.62×51 NATO (.308 Winchester) semi-automatic rifle that will be offered in two models: carbine with a 18″ barrel and target rifle with a 32″ barrel. The “bullpup” design rifle accepts FAL magazines. All controls are ambidextrous and the rifle ejects fired brass forward making this firearm equally shootable for left and right handed shooters.

KelTec RFB Video

January 2009 Update

The Kel Tec RFB rifle will be shipping early next month (Feb 09) according to a Kel Tec representative at the 2009 SHOT Show. The rep was very upbeat about the rifle, stating they are in production now and will be shipping very soon.

Kel Tec’s sales of the RFB rifles to distributers have been very brisk, selling 1,000 to one distributer on the first day of the SHOT Show alone.

I had a chance to handle the RFB, and I have to admit I was impressed. The rifle, chambered in .308/7.62 NATO, is hefty, but very well-balanced. Kel Tec had several different configurations of the RFB on display, and everyone stopping to check them out seemed to like them.

The RFB looks like it will be a very good seller for Kel Tec.

September 2009 Update

The Kel Tec RFB (Rifle, Forward-ejecting Bullpup) is shipping, though slower than had been expected. It seems there are some issues with the heat treating process, which have prevented manufacturing the RFB in large quantities. Specifically, Kel Tec states:

Heat treatment issues with the ejector chute are slowing down RFB production. Batches are still coming out, but not in full production quantities as of yet. We are working closely with our heat treaters to resolve the issue.

Hopefully, the RFB will be in full-production soon.

Kel Tec also stated they were showing a suppressed RFB at the Advanced Armament Corp. (AAC) Silencer Shoot. A suppressed RFB would be a fun rifle to own.

January 2012 Update

The carbine version of the Kel-Tec RFB rifle.

The Kel-Tec RFB Sporter will be introduced at the 2012 SHOT Show if the rumors I am hearing are correct. From what I hear, the mid-sized RFB will feature the 24″ barrel, putting it between the carbine and target models.

Kel-Tec indicated they would eventually produce a Sporter model when the RFB was introduced, but with all of the projects they have been working on during the past several years, I imagine the R&D on the 24″ model took a back seat to them.

The Kel-Tec RFB Sporter will be chambered in 7.62×51 (not in .223 as some of the rumors have suggested), and the longer barrel will offer increased long-range accuracy as compared to the carbine version.

I don’t have exact specs, but the new rifle should weigh about 9.5-10.0 pounds and have an OAL of about 32″. It should otherwise look and work just like any other RFB (forward ejecting, etc.)

While it did not appear that Kel-Tec spent much time on the rifle in 2011, they did introduce a variety of RFB accessories such as a short quad rail, muzzle brake and a “tactical” operating handle.

This video shows the Kel-Tec RFB carbine in action:

January 2012 – Second Update

Even though the “Hunter” version of the RFB got more attention, the Kel-Tec RFB 24 was introduced at the 2012 SHOT Show. The RFB 24, also known as the Sporter model, is a forward ejecting, 7.62×51 chambered rifle in a bullpup configuration with a 24″ barrel.

The RFB 24 is a mid-sized version of the rifle, falling between the carbine (18″ barrel) and target (32″ barrel) models.

I would be interested in seeing a side-by-side range test of all three versions to see what kind of accuracy, velocity and recoil differences there are between them.

January Update 3 – Tan Kel-Tec RFB

Kel-Tec is now showing the RFB rifle in tan. Previously, I have only seen the RFB in black, but at the 2012 SHOT Show, the company had a tan model on display.

Unfortunately, the woman representing Kel-Tec at the booth did not have any information on the gun. So, for now, we will have to wait and see if/when they ship.

That little bullpup is moving all these guys around, quite a bit. Go with 5.56 and keep your target in your sights. I like the 7.62 round but if you are constantly dealing with kick and focus, you won’t hit anything..especially in a high stress situation.

I agree *some* on the large caliber comment by “bfree”. However, much like the KRISS, the system needs to start small and then downsize. Therefore converting the concept of the RFB to a 5.56 is relatively simple compared to upsizing a 5.56 to a .308.

If I had to shoot this gun all day I’d maybe wish for a 5.56. But for a few shots it isn’t that big of a deal. Besides, Kel-Tec already said they’d be releasing the same gun in 5.56, 6.5, 6.8, and 7.62×29.